K. K.

Muhammed

Karingamannu Kuzhiyil Muhammed (born 1 July 1952), better known as K. K. Muhammed, is an Indian
archaeologist. He was the Regional Director (North) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and is
currently serving as Project Archaeological Director in Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Early life and background

KK Muhammed was born in calicut, Kerala in a middle-class family to Beeran Kutty Haji and Mariyam.
Muhammed is second amongst five siblings. After completing his schooling from Government Higher
secondary School, Koduvally, he obtained his Master's Degree in History (1973–75) from Aligarh Muslim
University, and his Post Graduate Diploma in Archaeology (1976–77) from the school of Archaeology,
Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, India.

Career
After completing education from Aligarh Muslim University, Muhammed served as Technical Assistant
and then as Assistant Archaeologist in the department of History at Aligarh Muslim University. Muhammed
was later selected as Deputy Superintendent Archaeologist in Archaeological Survey of India.
He was initially posted at Madras in 1988 and later transferred to Goa in 1991. In 1997, Muhammed was
promoted as Superintendent Archaeologist and subsequently, served in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. During this period, he also served as a tour guide to historic monuments for
prominent foreign guests such as Pervez Musharraf and Barack Obama. In 2012, Muhammed Retired as
Regional Director (North) from Archaeological Survey of India.

Major archaeological discoveries

Excavated Ibadat Khana, the structure where Akbar the Great proclaimed the formation of Composite
religion known as Din-e Ilahi (Nursery of Indian Secularism)
Discovered the first Christian Chapel of North India built by Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri
Excavated the Buddhist Stupa of Kesaria built by Emperor Ashoka[2]
Discovered and excavated Buddhist Stupa in Rajgir
Excavated the Buddhist archaeological site in Kolhua, Vaishali
Located and Excavated a number of rock cut caves, Umbrella Stones, Cists and Dolmens in Calicut and
Malapuram districts of Kerala
Dantewada temples
KK Muhammed conserved the Barsoor and Samlur Temples in Dantewada District near Jagdalpur,
Chhattisgarh. This area is known to be the seat of Naxal activities in the region. In 2003, KK Muhammed
was able to convince Naxal activists and with their co-operation, conserved the Temples to its present day
state.
Bateshwar Complex restoration
Main article: Bateshwar, Morena
Bateshwar, Morena is a complex of 200 ancient Shiva & Vishnu temples situated 40 km away from
Gwalior. These temples were built between 9th and 11th century during the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty, 200
years before Khajuraho. The area was under the control of Nirbhay Singh Gujjar and Gadariya Dacoits. KK
Muhammed successful in convincing the dacoits to let him restore these temples. He was able to restore 60
temples during his tenure in the region. After the dacoits were eliminated by the police, the area was
encroached by the mining mafia.
Facelift of Delhi's monuments
KK Muhammed was appointed as the Superintending Archaeologist of Delhi Circle, Archaeological Survey
of India in 2008. His primary task was to carry out a major facelift activity at 46 monuments for the
Commonwealth Games of 2010.

Museum - Masterpieces of Indian Art

KK Muhammed conceived and executed the idea of building a Museum that contains the replicas of statues
and stone carved sculptures across India. The museum, popularly known as the Replica Museum or the
Children Museum is situated outside the Siri Fort Sports Complex, behind Siri Fort Auditorium in
Delhi.[6][7][8]

Awards and honors

International awards
SAARC Environmental Award for Conservation of Bateshwar temples by Foundation of SAARC writers
and Literatures, 2009-2010
Sri Lanka Maha Bodhi Society Award, 2010 for "Invaluable contribution and effort in resurrecting the
ancient Buddhist heritage of Mahabharath."
The Reach Foundation Award, 2010
National awards
National Award for maintaining Sanchi Stupa as the Best Maintained & Tourist Friendly Monument by the
Ministry of Tourism, Govt. Of India 2006-2007
National Award for maintaining Qutub Minar as the best Maintained & Tourist Friendly monument 2007-
2008
National Award for The First Barrier Free Monument(Qutub Minar) 2007-2008
National Award for Maintaining Humayun's Tomb as the Best Maintained & Tourist Friendly monument
2008-2009
Citizen Journalist Award - Be the Change given by Network18 (CNN IBN) 2009-2010 for running Slum
School initiative
National Award for maintaining Red Fort as the Best Maintained & Tourist Friendly monument 2009-2010
12th Annual Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence Award, 2011
The Chishti India Harmony Awards, 2014 by India Harmony Foundation
State awards
Madhya Pradesh Government Award for Tourist Friendly Archaeologist 2009-2010.
Personal life
KK Muhammed married Rabiya, a native of Calicut, on 29 July 1983. They have two children, Jamshedh
and Shaheen.

Autobiography
In 2016, KK Muhammad's Malayalam-language autobiography Njan Enna Bharatiyan ("I an Indian") was
released. The book attracted controversy due to his claim that the Marxist historians sided with the extremist
Muslim groups and derailed attempts to find an amicable solution to the Ayodhya dispute. According to
him, archaeological excavations at Ayodhya clearly indicated the presence of a temple below the mosque,
but the leftist historians dismissed these, and even tried to mislead the Allahabad High Court.